Disclaimer: I've already said it before; I don't own Harry potter.
Recap
This is the life. I have a girlfriend and a best friend all in one. Nothing can ruin this day.
"And don't forget we have to tell my parents tomorrow."
So much for the day not being ruined.
Chapter 7: Many Happenings
"AAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!" Mrs. Granger screamed.
"Oh no no no no no no no no" came a squeaky voice.
"Honey, kill it!!!!!" CLUMP! BANG! BOOM! BAM! SHATTER!
Then there was silence. Not just silence, but a complete, eerie, nothingness of silence.
After being startled awake by the commotion downstairs Harry jumped out of his bed and dashed into the hallway only to fall flat on his butt after running into an equally startled Hermione. They both got up and ran downstairs and stood shocked at the spectacle before them.
Mr. and Mrs. Granger were frozen in mid air. Mrs. Granger stood with one toe on the couch; it was obvious that she was about to jump, and she had her hands in front of her mouth with a look that clearly exclaimed 'I'm scared because I don't know what the hell it is, so I'll scream while you attack'. Mr. Granger was standing in front of his wife with a tea pot in his hand and a look on his face that said 'I'm scared of it as much as you but I don't want to look like a coward so this tea pot will do, if not we're screwed'.
After looking at each other questioningly, Harry and Hermione took a few steps closer to the couch to see what could have caused the fright her parents were in. They saw a little ball with pointed ears and a potato sack. Harry bent over and poked it with his wand and it jumped up crying. It snatched the tea pot from Mr. Granger's stiff hands and hit himself in the head with it.
"Dobby is so sorry sir. Dobby didn't mean to curse the muggles. Dobby just protecting Harry Potter sir." Hermione clung to Harry's arm and had wide eyes. She knew it was a magical house elf. She read all about them in Hogwarts: A History, but that didn't mean she was ready to touch it or even see it personally.
Harry on the other hand was wondering what a house elf wanted him for. "Do I know this…..it… you?"
It stopped hitting itself and turned to Harry with a look of admiration in its eyes. "No. But I know you Harry Potter sir! You are the Boy-Who-Lived. But Dobby is here to warn you sir. You must not go to Hogwarts this year. Something bad will seek you"
"Um Dobby right? Can you explain a little more?" Hermione was now interested and wanted to know about the weird warning.
"Who are you missus?"
"I'm Hermione. I'm Harry's friend. His best friend. Now a little more detail…if you can."
"Dobby can't say exactly. Dobby's master told dobby not to"
Harry was a little frustrated and wanted to know what the little elf was talking about. "What can't you just tell me!? It's not that hard. You're not a puppet! You're a human … thing!"
"Harry, he is bonded to his master. If his master specifically tells him not to tell anyone about something, he is forced to obey by magic." She turned to Dobby and said, "I'm assuming that he didn't tell you not to warn us. He just told you not to tell what the big secret is. You like Harry because he's 'the boy who lived' so you took it upon yourself to find a loophole in your masters plan to get to Harry before it's too late." She finished with an 'I know I'm right so just let it settle for a bit' smirk.
Dobby's eyes got wide and sparkled with admiration for Hermione. "Harry's missus is a very intelligent girl. Dobby will like Harry and his Her.. Herm.. Hermoney."
Harry laughed at Dobby's pronunciation of Hermione's name, while she glared at him and elbowed Harry. Harry got serious and said "Dobby. I can't not go to school. I have to be there. But I will be extra extra extra careful. Okay?" Dobby nodded yes. "Now can you unfreeze the Grangers?"
Dobby did as told. Tim swung his hand forward only to realize that the teapot wasn't in his hand anymore. Rachael finished her scream and looked just as confused as her husband. Dobby looked at Harry and Hermione and smiled before he popped away.
"Mum. Dad. We need to talk." The older Grangers spun around and nodded a startled affirmative and headed to the kitchen with confusion etched in their faces. Harry looked nervously at Hermione and followed her parents into the kitchen.
To say they were concerned would be an understatement. The Grangers were downright scared for Harry. Their daughter explained about the house elf and the warning he gave Harry. They all wanted to know what was so dangerous at Hogwarts that Dobby needed to unofficially disobey his master to get to Harry.
"Well Harry, all we can tell you is to do your best to stay safe." Rachael said soothingly.
"And don't forget to protect you best friend over here. If she is with you we want you both to be safe. On second thought are you sure you want to go Hermione? You would be an excellent dentist" Rachael kicked her husband and gave him a reproachful look.
"Mum Dad, Harry and I would like to talk to you about something." She started to get nervous when she realized what she was going to do. "Don't we Harry". The Grangers line of sight switched from Hermione to Harry. Harry looked like a deer caught in the headlights. After a couple of seconds of watching Harry gape like a fish, Hermione decided she would continue the news. "Well, Harry and I are best friends. But we've couldn't help but notice that we are of the opposite sex, and when two people of the opposite sex like each other they…..wait no that what you said when you gave me the sex talk. Ok let me start over. When two people…"
"Hermione and I are dating" Harry couldn't stand it anymore. Tim looked like he was going to kill Harry when Hermione drifted on the subject. Hermione watched her parents to see if she could read their reactions.
Rachael finally spoke up "Well. I would be lying if I said I didn't see that coming."
Tim let out a breath of relief "Whoo, you scared me for a minute there. I thought you were telling me that you had…you know. But we must reconsider where Harry's room is"
"I think they are responsible enough to share a bathroom. We'll just watch them like a hawk watches his prey"
Hermione smiled at Harry and mouthed 'I told you so'.
"How about we initiate Harry into the family"
Tim looked at his wife giving a signal and she asked "Are you sure Tim?" He nodded yes.
Harry couldn't help but notice Hermione's smile was no longer there and she looked down right depressed. Tim and Rachael each grabbed a hold of Harry's arms and took him to the living room. He took one last look back at his girlfriend and she put on a poor attempt of a smile. What have I gotten myself into?
Harry was in tears when the Grangers finished with him. By night, he saw every embarrassing picture of Hermione and he laughed at every one. Especially the story behind the picture of a two year old Hermione sitting on the potty with her hand under her chin and a look of concentration on her face. It had a label under it called "The Thinker". Rachael said "Hermione had a problem with using the big girl potty; she thought the toilet would eat her up. So we told her when she sits and have to go, just think of anything that has nothing to do with the potty being alive. When she finished we asked if our advice helped. She said no because all the time she was thinking the potty wouldn't eat her if it was filled with poo!"
Hermione scowled in the corner as Harry fell off the couch with laughter. Before she could get up and hit him a knock came from the door. Tim answered and there was Albus Dumbledore. "I hope I'm not interrupting but I do need to speak with Harry alone"
"If its ok professor I'd like the Grangers to hear what you have to say it concerns them as much as it does me. After all, it is their home."
"Very well Harry. I can not allow you to stay at the Granger household"
"WHAT WHY!"
"Please watch your tone Ms. Granger. There are protection ward in place at number 4 and Harry is in dire need of these protections."
Tim spoke up "Why can't you move them here?"
"They are blood protections. Harry's mother saved him by loving him. Her blood is needed"
Hermione huffed "well that makes no sense. Harry's mother is dead…um sorry Harry. How can her blood be in that house? Even Mrs. Dursley would not have the exact blood that saved Harry."
"I assure you Ms. Granger her sister's love saved Harry and that blood lies in Petunia. You can call it her love blood. And it is in the bloodline"
Harry was starting to understand where Hermione was going with this. "But how can her blood save me. My mum saved me because of HER love. Petunia has nothing to do with it. Even if so, Aunt Petunia hates me. If anything the wards are now longer active. For all we know her hate for me could have cancelled my mum's …erm…love blood as you put it"
"Harry. Try to understand that after this year's events I cannot allow you to be harmed by Voldemort. You have no other choice. You shall be back at the Dursley's soon enough. Now pack you bags and we can go back" Harry felt he lost the battle. He walked to the stairs because Dumbledore sounded like nothing could change his mind until Hermione startled them all.
"THEY BEAT HIM!!!"
Dumbledore turned around not quite believing what he heard. "What did you say Ms. Granger?"
She couldn't take it anymore and broke down crying on the floor. Her parents rushed to her side and kneeled next to their sobbing daughter while whispering soothing words in her ears.
Harry bowed his head in shame. This is not how I wanted him to find out. I'm the bloody Boy-Who-Lived! If everyone finds my muggle relatives beat me, I'll be in the papers and get their pity…or some people like Malfoy will taunt me.
"Ms. Granger I asked you to repeat what you said!"
"Don't yell at my daughter! She is obviously distraught!" Mrs. Granger stood in Dumbledore's face and held her ground. Dumbledore looked completely shocked by the woman's show of courage.
Mr. Granger had stayed to calm his daughter down. He knew his wife could stand up to a man; Oh sure, she's not afraid of a magical, powerful, wise wizard, but nearly died from seeing an elf thingy. Hermione suddenly stood up startling him from his thoughts.
"I said they beat and abuse Harry. He's spent his whole life working like a slave in that house. He gets emotionally abused, malnourished, and locked in a cupboard. Want to know why!? It's because you left him there. He told me you left him with the Dursley's. What kind of respectable person would take a baby boy from the magical world he belongs in, just to DUMP him on some fat man's stoop! I'll tell you what kind; the stupid old man that thinks he knows it all!"
Merlin! Hermione just told Dumbledore off. I was wondering why she was in Gryffindor. I think I'm in love. Harry wiped the goofy grin off his face when he realized everyone was expecting him to say something next.
"Listen professor. I am not just going to sit here and say I'm the same boy you knew last year. I've only been here for a few days and I've been shown everything I've missed growing up with the Dursley's. I still have to work on trying not to think of myself as a little house elf, but I will improve." Seeing that Dumbledore was unmoving, Harry added, "If I just so happen to do a little accidental magic, the Dursley's, as my legal guardians, will keep me here and not allow me back in Hogwarts." Harry gave himself a mental pat on the back when he saw Dumbledore's eyes widen at the thought of Harry never returning to school. "Now, if I could get emancipated in both worlds, get protective wards over this house, and take extra precautions to maintain our safety then I will be sure to return to Hogwarts. Until then, I am home with the Dursley's"
The shock on Dumbledore's face never went away. Here were two soon to be second years giving him demands that he could not refuse. Harry being an adult meant he would instantly get access of the prophecy; they would send it from the department of Mysteries. He had to tell him now "Harry. I will agree to your terms on one condition. You will train with special trainers that I will provide during the school year. You see Harry, there is a prophecy. All in all, it all comes down to you and Voldemort. One of you must die at the hands of the other. If you win, both worlds survive. If you lose… the outcome will be devastating in his hands. I'm telling you this now because my plan was to train you when you were old enough to do this on your own. But now that you know, you can train willingly and start earlier. There is also a part about having a power he knows not. I am not certain what it is but I have a suspicion that it is love. Your mother used love to save you and he does not posses an ounce of it in his soul. I will leave you Harry, but I will contact you tomorrow about the emancipation and if it goes through." When Harry and the Grangers stood looking at Dumbledore, he added "I'll leave you to discuss this and let it settle. Have a good day"
Dumbledore left quickly, hoping to rebuild his relationship with Harry by getting his emancipation finalized. Not to mention the dignity he lost when 'the most powerful wizard alive' was word-bullied by two 12 year olds. He knew had to call an emergency Order meeting to let them know everything that transpired that night.
Number three was quiet. Everyone was in deep thought. "I'm sorry I bought you all into this. I can move out on my own and keep you all out of harms way. I always suspected he wanted me for something so I'm not really surprised. But I will train when necessary to defeat him. Tomorrow I'll leave either back to the Dursley's or to a new place. I just don't want you hurt."
Tim looked at Harry, stood up and hugged the young man. "This is a major responsibility. We now know that the fate of the world depends on you. But we will not let you lose the rest of your childhood. Every summer and winter that you're here you will be a kid. A regular kid, with a regular family and girlfriend. By the way, I never told you I completely approve of your relationship. However, you can also expect to have a regular father invading your privacy and giving threats every chance he gets because you are dating his only daughter."
"And like I stated while I was speaking with fatty…I meant Vernon. NO funny business will happen under this roof."
Rachael smirked at Harry with a look that said 'yeah that message was for you that day. I knew you two will be together soon'
Harry look at Hermione hoping she would say something…anything.
She smiled at Harry and said "I told you they would be okay with us being together" Harry smiled as she walked up to him and gave him a small kiss on the lips.
"OH GOD NOOOOO!" Harry and Hermione snapped their head to her dad. He had his hands covering his eyes. He was rocking back and forth saying "it's too soon. It's too soon. I shouldn't be seeing this. I shouldn't be seeing this."
Her mother shook her head at her husband's antics. "Maybe you shouldn't kiss in front of him until you're married" This made the two blush bright red at the thought of being married.
She walked over and grabbed Tim's arm and led him upstairs while he kept mumbling "It's too soon. It's too soon. I shouldn't be seeing this. I shouldn't be seeing this."
"You two should get to bed. Goodnight"
"Night mum"
"G'night Mrs. … Rachael"
When they heard the door close they walked silently up to their rooms stopping at Hermione's first. "Harry, I just want you to know that I'm by your side no matter what. Okay?"
Harry nodded and leaned in and gave her a soft kiss. She responded back with desperation. She needed him to know she would always be there. When they pulled back out of breath, she looked at him and blushed while saying goodnight. Harry walked back to his room with a dreamy look on his face. He nearly fell on top of his trunk thinking about the kiss he just experienced.
When Harry was ready for bed and was almost asleep he heard a tapping at the window. Hedwig was perched on the sill with a red envelope tied to her leg. Why would the Weasley's send her back? And what's on her leg. That looks like a HOWLER!
A/N: What's up peoples. Just writing to thank for the reviews once again. This chapter was sort of fun to write with the small comedic moments. It's 2am and I have class tomorrow at 9am. I've been sick with fever and cold from the weather change, here in Chicago. I had horrible tests, a few speeches to give, and still had to work. But I love HP and I wanted to give the readers another chapter.
Oh and don't forget to review!!! Please and thank you J